What Is Schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects 1% of the world's population. It causes horrible symptoms with negative mental, behavioral and speech effects. People with schizophrenia find it difficult to tell the difference between real and unreal experiences, have trouble thinking logically, and typically have abnormal emotional responses and social behaviors. Schizophrenia is not a split-personality disorder.
Causes Genetic Schizophrenia "runs in the family". People with close relatives who are affected are at a higher risk of developing schizophrenia. A persons risk is highest if they have a twin who has schizophrenia. If one twin is affected, there is a 40-50% chance the other twin will have schizophrenia too. The child of a patient has a 10% risk, second highest compared to the general populations 1%.
Scientific research suggests that chromosomes 6 and 13 can increase susceptibility. This theory is unproven.
Brain Development Schizophrenia is caused by a chemical imbalance of dopamine in the brain. Physical abnormalities in the brain are also possible causes. Such abnormalities include enlarged ventricles (fluid-filled cavities in the brain) and decreased size of certain regions of the brain. Developmental neurobiologists funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have found that schizophrenia may surround abnormal connections that occur during fetal development.
Diagnosis The most common criteria for diagnosis comes from either the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders version DSM-IV-TR or the World Health Organization's International Statistical Classification of Diseases and related Health Problems version ICD-10. The DSM-IV-TR is used mostly in the United States and the ICD-10 is used mostly in Europe. According to the DSM-IV-TR, thrre are 3 diagnostic criteria that must be met to be diagnosed with schizophrenia. 1) Characteristic Symptoms: Two or more of the following symptoms in a one month period.
Delusions
Hallucinations
Disorganized Speech (if it substantially impairs communication)
Grossly Disorganized Behavior
Negative Symptoms--lack of or decline in emotional responses, speech or motivation
2) Social/Occupational Dysfunction
3) Duration: Combination of symptoms and social/occupational dysfunction for at least six months.
Treatment Medication Anti-psychotic medications can reduce symptoms and help a patient function more efficiently. Medication has been most effective in treating delusions and hallucinations.
Rehabilitation There are many rehabilitation programs that include counseling, management skills training and social skills training as part of their treatment. These are especially helpful for discharged patients (not in a mental health facility).
Psychotherapy One-on-one discussions between the patient and a mental health professional have been shown to be effective. For a patient, it may be helpful to share their personal experiences. The idea is that by talking about it, they might be able to learn about and even understand their problem.
Unfortunately, many patients are forced to go without any proper treatment because daily medications and consistent therapy is very expensive.
Living With Schizophrenia Gerald is living with schizophrenia. You can watch this video about him here: Part 1Part 2
Several men and women who are affected by schizophrenia share their experiences (audio): Patient Voices: Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects 1% of the world's population. It causes horrible symptoms with negative mental, behavioral and speech effects. People with schizophrenia find it difficult to tell the difference between real and unreal experiences, have trouble thinking logically, and typically have abnormal emotional responses and social behaviors. Schizophrenia is not a split-personality disorder.
Causes
Genetic
Schizophrenia "runs in the family". People with close relatives who are affected are at a higher risk of developing schizophrenia. A persons risk is highest if they have a twin who has schizophrenia. If one twin is affected, there is a 40-50% chance the other twin will have schizophrenia too. The child of a patient has a 10% risk, second highest compared to the general populations 1%.
Scientific research suggests that chromosomes 6 and 13 can increase susceptibility. This theory is unproven.
Brain Development
Schizophrenia is caused by a chemical imbalance of dopamine in the brain. Physical abnormalities in the brain are also possible causes. Such abnormalities include enlarged ventricles (fluid-filled cavities in the brain) and decreased size of certain regions of the brain. Developmental neurobiologists funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have found that schizophrenia may surround abnormal connections that occur during fetal development.
Diagnosis
1) Characteristic Symptoms: Two or more of the following symptoms in a one month period.
2) Social/Occupational Dysfunction
3) Duration: Combination of symptoms and social/occupational dysfunction for at least six months.
Treatment
Anti-psychotic medications can reduce symptoms and help a patient function more efficiently. Medication has been most effective in treating delusions and hallucinations.
Rehabilitation
There are many rehabilitation programs that include counseling, management skills training and social skills training as part of their treatment. These are especially helpful for discharged patients (not in a mental health facility).
Psychotherapy
One-on-one discussions between the patient and a mental health professional have been shown to be effective. For a patient, it may be helpful to share their personal experiences. The idea is that by talking about it, they might be able to learn about and even understand their problem.
Unfortunately, many patients are forced to go without any proper treatment because daily medications and consistent therapy is very expensive.
Living With Schizophrenia
Gerald is living with schizophrenia. You can watch this video about him here:
Part 1 Part 2
Several men and women who are affected by schizophrenia share their experiences (audio):
Patient Voices: Schizophrenia
Learn More
If you want to learn more about schizophrenia from some real experts, you can read some articles here:
"Schizophrenia" from World Book Student
"Schizophrenia" from Gale Virtual Reference Library
"Schizophrenia" from Student Resources In Context
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia
https://health.google.com/health/ref/Schizophrenia
http://www.schizophrenia.com